Synopsis
The Khadi exhibition at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj recorded impressive sales of Rs 12.02 crore, according to KVIC Chairman Manoj Kumar. The event featured numerous stalls and highlighted initiatives like the Honey Mission aimed at promoting beekeeping and boosting rural income.Key Takeaways
- Khadi sales reached Rs 12.02 crore at Maha Kumbh.
- The exhibition included 98 Khadi stalls and 54 village industry stalls.
- The Honey Mission supports beekeepers with resources.
- Sales of Khadi products have grown fivefold in a decade.
- Over 80% of employment in the sector benefits women.
New Delhi, March 9 (NationPress) The showcase of Khadi products at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj from January 14 to February 27 this year achieved impressive sales totaling Rs 12.02 crore, as stated by the Chairman of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Manoj Kumar.
He mentioned that the event included 98 Khadi stalls and 54 village industry stalls, which together generated sales of Rs 9.76 crore in Khadi products and Rs 2.26 crore in village industry goods.
In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of promoting the ‘Sweet Revolution’ in rural areas, the ‘Honey Mission’ was launched to provide bee colonies and boxes to beekeepers.
Kumar distributed 2,050 bee boxes, honey colonies, and toolkits to 205 beekeepers across six states via a video conference from KVIC’s Rajghat office in Delhi.
While addressing the artisans, the KVIC Chairman recalled that in 2016, Prime Minister Modi had initiated the ‘Sweet Revolution’ from Banaskantha’s Deesa in Gujarat, alongside the ‘White Revolution.’ Inspired by this, KVIC started the ‘Honey Mission’ in 2017, benefiting over 20,000 individuals who have received 200,000 bee boxes and colonies.
He also highlighted that in the 75th episode of the monthly broadcast 'Mann Ki Baat,’ the Prime Minister discussed the advantages of bee farming, noting that in addition to honey, bee wax is a significant source of revenue.
Bee wax is highly sought after in the pharmaceutical, food, textile, and cosmetic sectors. Thus, more farmers should incorporate bee farming into their agricultural practices to boost their income and contribute to the nation’s self-sufficiency in honey production, as emphasized by PM Modi during his talk show.
The KVIC Chairman underscored the accomplishments of the Khadi sector over the last decade, reporting that sales of Khadi and village industry products have grown fivefold, from Rs 31,000 crore to Rs 1,55,000 crore. Sales of Khadi garments alone have increased sixfold, from Rs 1,081 crore to Rs 6,496 crore, and in the last financial year, 1.017 million new jobs were created. He also revealed that the earnings of Khadi artisans have surged by 213 percent in the past ten years, with over 80 percent of the employment in this sector being generated for women.
